Upgrade midday meal facilities in schools: MP rights body

Acting on a Hindustan Times report about poor midday meal facilities in schools, the MP human rights commission has issued recommendations to the government for immediate up gradation of such facilities so that students get hygienic and healthy food.

Every child in government and government aided primary schools is served meal to improve nutritional levels among them.(HT file)

Acting on a Hindustan Times report about poor mid-day meal facilities in the schools, the state human rights commission has issued recommendations to the government for immediate up gradation of such facilities so that students get hygienic and healthy food.

Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) said mid-day meal should be served in a clean surrounding and number of plates, glass and other utensils should be more than the number of students in the school.

Besides, there should be workers for cleaning the utensils and clean drinking water facilities, the MPHRC said.

Hindustan Times in its October 19 edition reported that Rozra Chakkar government primary school has only 12 plates for 47 students. Three to four students are forced to eat their meals from a plate.

The recommendations come after the additional chief secretary of education department and the principal secretary of women and child department have submitted a report sought by the rights body.

“The recommendations were made after a MPHRC team inspected anganwadis in Bhopal, Raisen, Sehore districts. The team found that anganwadis in these districts do not open on time and meals are not served as per the menu,” said LR Sisodia, the joint director MPHRC.

Under the centrally sponsored mid-day meal scheme, every child in government and government aided primary schools across India is served a prepared meal to improve nutritional levels among them besides enhancing enrolment and attendance.

A latest survey by Child Rights revealed that in 27% of schools across MP, mid-day meal was either not being cooked inside a designated kitchen or schools did not have a kitchen space.